To pour a volley in upon the rebels
would endanger the lives of the prisoners as much as those of the
enemy. Meanwhile the rebels themselves were rapidly deploying and
opening fire. The militia were in danger of losing all their
advantage, of being shot down defenseless, of perhaps losing the day,
all owing to the presence of the prisoners in the enemy's ranks. Again
Colonel Ashley gave the order to fire. Again not a man obeyed.
"We can't kill our friends," said an officer.
"God have mercy on their souls, but pour in your fire!" roared the
commander, and the volley was given. The prisoners broke from the
ranks of the enemy and ran; the firing became general. For five or ten
minutes a brisk engagement was kept up, and then the rebels broke and
fled in every direction. The Stockbridge and Lenox companies after
having followed the rebels through Great Barrington and on toward
Sheffield had also turned in after them on the back road, and coming
up behind in the nick of time had attacked their rear and caused their
panic.
Only two of the militia had been wounded, one mortally. One also of
the prisoners had proved in need of Colonel Ashley's invocation.
Solomon Gleason had fallen dead at the first volley from his friends.
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